Media Release 5 August 2013

Freeview sales hit 2,000,000

More than 2,000,000 Freeview approved devices have now been sold in New Zealand, according to figures compiled from retailers last month.(1)

Freeview General Manager Sam Irvine says record sales in recent months have been driven by the South Island digital switchover and households looking for value when converting all TV’s in their homes to digital.

“This is a fantastic result for Freeview with so many Kiwis embracing free viewing, as well as free recording with MyFreeview.”

“However, there are still 101,000 North Island households who are yet to go digital and the latest research tells us that the perceived expense is one of their single greatest barriers to going digital.”

“Freeview will always be the most affordable option and best value for households going digital and that value is increasing with new content like Sommet Sports, the only free-to-air sports channel in this part of the world which launched recently on Freeview HD,” Mr Irvine says.

Interactive TV content and more new services will be added to the Freeview platform in the future. These will further add value for viewers with Freeview receivers, MyFreeview recorders or TVs with Freeview built in, according to Mr Irvine.

Freeview expects to continue boosting its market share as more households choose Freeview to convert their second or third TV sets to digital. New figures show nearly a quarter of all New Zealand households have additional sets which are not set up to get digital.(2)

“We all love being able to escape to watch TV in another room if we don’t like what’s on in the lounge. Freeview is the most affordable solution to upgrading multiple TVs. So you’re still free to watch your favourite show, after switchover, regardless of what the rest of the family is watching,” Mr Irvine says.

Research also indicates many viewers are still waiting until the last minute to make the change to digital. According to Mr Irvine, installers can be frequently booked up in the weeks before switchover.

“We would strongly encourage all viewers to make arrangements now to avoid disappointment, when they go to try and organise a new dish or UHF aerial, in the last couple of weeks before DSO,” Mr Irvine says.

To find out how to get Freeview, head to your local electrical store or visit www.freeviewnz.tv.

1) Research results were independently performed by GFK & Colmar Brunton.
2) See http://goingdigital.co.nz/uploads/downloads/Digital_Tracker_MayJune2013.pdf

ENDS

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